Hi everyone, I wrote a little something for the holidays. Hope everyones is merry and bright! (under 2000 words)

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Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

PG-13 (For a sexual reference made)

Pairings S/B

Additional characters: Two "other character" slayers

A/N : I have to fess up. I was there when James told us his idea for the Spike movie. I got a bit of my inspiration from that. So I will thank him for the idea. But hey, I ran with it.

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And when the night is falling,
Down the sky at midnight,
Another year is stalling
Far away a good bye, good night
All that I want., all that I want, all that I want
So small a turning,
The world grows older every day
An ache, a yearning
Soften when I hear you say
All that I want, all that I want
And when the cold wind's blowing,
Snow drifts through the pine trees
In houses lights are glowing
Likewise in your eyes that find me here
With all that I want.
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
It's Christmastime
It's Christmastime.

The Weepies

All That I Want for Christmas

Spike made his way up the walk platz. Coming to Germany at Christmas was the closest he'd get to showing he had any holiday spirit. The Fest going on right now added some ambience. The snow helped. He liked how he could get out and about on snowy grey days. He watched the people moving from booth to booth buying gifts and the spiced mulled wine the Germans called Gluhwien. He himself didn't mind having a glass or twelve of the stuff.

He stopped suddenly as he saw them in the window. There in a store window was a pair of boots like he hadn't seen before. They were…the only word he could think of was, "beautiful." They were real beauties. He didn't remember the last time he had new boots. The soles on the ones he wore now let the snow and any other moisture nearby in from time to time. He tucked his hands in his coat pockets and drew it in close. At least the coat was in good condition. Italian bird had made sure of that. It would be nice if he could just nick the things like he used to. The soul made doing things like that impossible.

"Bloody full of consciousness shite."

From behind him he heard an unfamiliar voice. "Those boots to the right are cool. I bet those are the ones you like."

He turned to see a young girl. She had on a knitted hat, but he could see she had sandy blonde hair by the braids that peaked out from underneath.

"American are you?" He smiled.

"And you're alive, well undead and not dead like you're supposed to be. You're a big hero."

Spike was surprised but held back any reaction.

"I can tell you don't remember me. I'm Linda. I was there at the end. I helped fight. I was one of the ones that didn't die." She gave him a small smile. "You and Buffy helped train me."

"Buffy did most of that. I was just a long for the ride…played resident vamp."

"But you did save us."

"You said it was Linda? How about I buy you something hot to drink? And not talk too much about that."

"I think you should try those boots on."

"No use falling in love with them when I can't buy 'em. I can afford a hot cider or gluhwein, but as for the boots, that's not possible."

"Yeah, I get that. It's not like the Council gives us any money. I get a small allowance. I usually have to save up if I want to buy any clothes at all. And of course, they are always getting ruined...Demon gook."

Spike chuckled, "I recall hearing about that before, the constant destruction of clothes by demons that is."

The two had a drink sitting in the tent set up in the middle of the city platz. They talked a bit about the fight against all that's evil, but neither felt like remembering that time they had joined forces.

Linda got up." I have to get back to patrol. It was good to see you. Will you be around? Will I see you again?"

"I don't think so, pet. Time for me to move on, now that I know this city is in safe hands."

"Well Merry Christmas then. You vampires, the ones with souls celebrate don't you?"

He smiled, "Not sure, I may. You have a happy Christmas Linda." He watched as she made her way up the platz.

Spike walked past the store and took a longing look at the boots one last time. He headed to his room which he believed would be best described as a bed-sitter. It consisted of a tiny fridge, a hotplate and a bed. The bath was down the hall.

He walked up through the Turkish part of town and as he past a Kebab store, he saw a sign. Night help needed for large deliveries… Strength Important…Good pay.

Spike wouldn't normally consider this, but the little slayer had made him feel so welcome and he could use some money for travel. He walked in and using his best German asked about the sign.

The job was simple. He would pick up boxes in Frankfurt every night and transport them here in Wiesbaden to a warehouse. The pay was ridiculously high. He asked why and was told it was due to the fact he would be the only one involved and the packages were very heavy. In fact, the man hiring him had trouble believing Spike could actually do the work. Spike demonstrated how strong he actually was and it was a done deal. He had a job. The first paying one since the Scoobies had paid him to help them.

The boxes were heavy and there were a lot of them. He worked every night, and he was only a day away from a paycheck when he parked the truck and was getting ready to turn in the keys for the night. Suddenly from the shadows there came a blur. He was then roughly pinned to a wall.

"What are you doing? How are you getting the Garsiny Demons into the country? We know it's you."

Spike didn't actually know what to do. There were so many things in his mind. It's her. She thinks I'm involved with some scheme, she didn't even know I was alive or rather still around, Garsiny demons were too big for him to have brought in the country and this probably meant he wouldn't be seeing that paycheck. But then it came back around to, It's her.

"Buffy? We've done this up against the wall thing before haven't we, pet?"

"I , I, I am just standing here saying nothing because I don't know what to say. Wait, yes I do. What happened? I thought you burned up in the Hellmouth."

"Andrew never said?"

"Andrew?"

"Boy knew I was back."

"That little twerp is so dead. I'm calling Dawn and getting her to strangle him tonight. She's good by the way and in Rome. She met a boy in school so she stayed there after graduation. European school is a little different than ours and she went through it so fast. She'll be happy about you being all here and solid. She'll probably want to damage Andrew too."

"Glad to hear about Dawn, but perhaps you could let me stand on my own. I don't bruise easy but I'm sure to have a few on my back from your sudden throwing of me into this wall."

"Oh, right."

"So what's this about Garsiny demons? They are huge if I remember right. Kind of hard to sneak them anywhere."

"They are coming in to Europe somehow. They are building up their numbers, breeding, and causing all sorts of problems. I tracked them to here, to this delivery truck. And as for how they are getting in, we found out you can chop them into pieces and then put them back together, you know…like a demon puzzle."

"Oh, bloody hell."

Spike explained about his job. All it took is one call and two other slayers, one being Linda, to join them. They went to the warehouse and simply burnt it down.

Spike stood back from the blaze, "Nothing like a roaring blaze, a `Yule-demon-warehouse' on the holidays. Makes it so festive."

Buffy grinned then asked. "Christmas is tomorrow. Will you come celebrate with us?"

Linda nodded, "Yeah that would be so cool."

Buffy looked up at him, "I really would like to have some time with you."

Spike simply gave her a nod.

"Was that a yes? "

"Yes, but I just lost my paycheck with that blaze. There will be no presents for the kiddies, not from Santa Spike anyway."

Buffy took his hand into her gloved one. She gently squeezed it. "You are the present, or are you not getting how the returning from the dead, ah undead, the…you know, the being gone forever factor works."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike had wondered about his decision. Buffy finally had a normal life, one she deserved. That had been some of the reason he hadn't told her he was back. That, and he would have to face the truth, he would have to finally know. Did she actually mean what she had said that day down in the Hellmouth? He still couldn't tell. The actions and reactions last night between the two hadn't been too different than before that fateful day.

The large apartment the three slayers shared smelled wonderful. He couldn't help but briefly think of his Thanksgiving with her so many years ago. Oh, the fun he had, tied to a chair, arrows flying about. Life with Buffy had never been dull.

Buffy greeted him. She took his coat and smiled warmly. "Dinner will be ready in an hour."

"Do I get more than gravy?"

"What?"

"Last holiday meal with you, I was recalling it. Arrows, bears, homicidal natives."

Buffy gave a little laugh, "None of that today, just turkey, and the fixings. Linda wanted ham, but we are in Germany and things are different here. What they have is more of a pork roast than a cured ham. So it's Turkey."

"Well it's perfect, as that's traditional British Christmas fare. You didn't by chance make Christmas pudding?"

The slayer he'd only seen last night answered in a Scottish accent, "I did. Trifle too. Grew up in Manchester, although my mum says never admit it. We are Scots she says, Scots and only Scots."

With a chuckle Spike asked, "And by chance, red and gold wouldn't be …."

"Well of course. Who could live there and not love United. I went to all the matches. "

"I think we might get along nicely, your name is…."

"Greer Mackenzie. And Linda told me we would get along because I come with a bottle of the finest whisky of my people. Carry it wherever I go. There are a few advantages at being made slayer a little later in your life than a teen. Buffy doesn't like a nip, but well I can't go without from time to time."

"I like her Buffy."

"Giles said you'd hate her because she's scotch."

"Giles, even if he is one of those English upper crust types, bloody knows better than to call me scotch. I'm Scottish. That bottle I left in the Kitchen is Scotch."

Spike grinned, "I really like her. Never seen one of those SITs willing to tell you off, well not until the big coup that lasted, what was it, a day. OK Greer let's have a bit of that whisky before dinner."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `

The dinner was eaten and the dishes done. The other two slayers disappeared as Spike and Buffy sat in the living room with the tree lights on.

Buffy moved closer to Spike. She crossed her legs under her while sitting on the couch as she turned to look at him. "That day in the Hellmouth, with the amulet, that was not what I had planned. I hadn't planned to lose you."

Spike tilted his head just a bit, "Buffy?"

"I know, I couldn't promise you anything, but I thought if we had a few more months we would have something, we would be alright. I just needed a little more time. I was always afraid of not being able to share myself, and then losing… well everyone I have ever loved has eventually left me. "

"So you meant what you said?"

"Yes, yes I did. It was too late then, but I did."

"And now what do you mean by telling me all this?"

"You're back, do you think it could just all be alright now?"

Spike said nothing he just looked into her eyes.

"Spike you have to say something. I can't tell what you're thinking."

He started a slow smile. "You can't? I think you might if you try hard."

Buffy moved getting to her knees then leaned forward and gave him a soft lingering kiss. He pulled her close.

Suddenly Greer and Linda came in. Linda pulled a box from under the tree and dropped it on the coffee table in front of Spike.

Buffy sat back, "Oh yeah, I forgot."

Linda announced, "It's from all of us and yeah we know you didn't get us any but, hey, we are up walking around thanks to you, so we figure it's even."

Spike moved his eyes to Buffy's, searching them.

"Don't look at me. I already got all that I want for Christmas"

Spike unwrapped the box opened the lid and saw the boots he'd been admiring.

He grinned, "It's a Christmas miracle. I am a vampire that has just gotten everything he has ever wanted from one or another slayer today. Well there is one last thing, but Buffy you and I can save that for New Years, when all that warm champagne needs a cork to be popped. "

Buffy gave him a slap. "As romantic as you can be you go and say something like that."

Spike shrugged. "I have an image to maintain Buffy. I mean…did you even take a look at the boots?"